How to Keep Your Lawn Looking Its Best in Summer

Now that we’re smack bang in the middle of summer, you’re probably starting to notice a fair bit of summer heat as temperatures rise around the country. While this change will affect how you feel, don’t forget that it also can have quite an impact on your lawn, too.

As such, now is a key time to give your lawn some extra tender loving care, so it stays healthy during summer and looks its best. You’re probably already starting to enjoy more outdoor entertaining with pool parties and barbecues already, so you’ll want your lawn to look just as good as the rest of your outdoor space. Read on for some key ways you can help your lawn to stay lush as summer progresses.

Mowing

Always mow your lawn, even in the hotter months of the year. While you might think it’s not so necessary, since the grass often doesn’t grow as quickly during the summer, mowing is actually helpful for your lawn, thickening it up.

However, as you keep up your lawn-mowing schedule, do amend the length you cut. Never trim off more than a third of the grass at one time. During the warmer times of year, you need to leave extra length on the lawn. Doing so helps the blades to handle the drier period because more shade is provided for the soil. In turn, this enables the grass to get deeper roots.

Another tip is to ensure the blades on your machine are kept sharp. Cutting your grass with a dull blade can lead to the plant tissue being torn instead of perfectly sheared, which then causes the lawn to turn brown. It makes your grass more susceptible to stress and diseases, in particular.

Avoid mowing when the ground is wet if you want to protect the health of the grass, and it’s wise to switch directions and patterns as you cut. This way, the grass won’t keep getting pushed in the same direction again and again.

If you find this mowing maintenance task a bit challenging to fit into your busy calendar, remember there are many companies that can look after your lawn for you, not just mowing it but otherwise taking care of it year-round. Search online for lawn care services near me or similar terms, and you’ll see various choices in your area.

Watering

Watering must be done on a regular basis. The heat of summer can quickly dry out the grass and cause issues; plus, there isn’t as much rain as normal during this time to help with moisture levels. If you have just laid new lawn, watering is even more important. Water daily to help seeds germinate and to ensure a solid root system can take hold.

To get the most favorable impact, water your lawn early in the day, before the sun reaches its highest point. By doing this, less moisture will be able to evaporate from the lawn. It will also enable the grass to absorb plenty of water before the sun sets.

For many properties, giving your lawn around one to two inches of water each week during summer will work nicely. However, do keep in mind that this is just a guide and what’s required for your grass may vary depending on where you live and what the weather is like.

To check to see if your lawn is getting the right amount of moisture, keep a close eye on its color. If it appears to be turning a bit brown or has a blue-gray hue, this indicates more water is needed. You may also notice that the older leaf blades start to curl up or wilt. This happens when the soil beneath the grass dries up due to lack of water.

Weeding

The summer months are also a good time to work on keeping weeds at bay. It’s wise to examine what the pH level of the soil is beneath your lawn. If there’s too much acidity, you’ll see a build-up of moss and weeds sooner since they like these conditions. It’s better to raise the pH level by utilizing some limestone or ground chalk on your lawn.

If needed, you can apply weed control; these days there are many top-quality organic products on the market which are better for your lawn, your pets, and the environment. Alternatively, you can remove weeds manually. Tools such as scarifiers can be used for this job. They are particularly helpful at getting pests such as daisies, dandelions and white clover out of lawns. Do be careful to get the whole root out though, otherwise they’ll grow back quickly.